Twenty-three community groups across the Northern Rivers region of Australia‘s New South Wales have secured grants from NRMA Insurance’s Help Fund, IAG said on 3 September.
Six groups received Establishment Grants of up to A$3,000 (US$2,160) and 17 received Resilience Action Grants of up to A$10,000 (US$7,210) for projects addressing locally identified resilience priorities before, during and after disasters.
The awards are the first under an A$800k (US$576k) two-year commitment NRMA Insurance made in January, delivered in partnership with the Northern Rivers Community Foundation. The insurer developed the grant design and selection process with the Northern Rivers Community Resilience Alliance and Monash University.
“Northern Rivers communities have endured repeated floods, fires and storms in recent years,” said Jen Cobley, NRMA Insurance executive manager for community impact and customer advocate. “We’re proud to support local people who understand their communities best.”
Reliable communications during disasters ran through most of the successful applications, with groups seeking satellite communications, solar-powered emergency systems, community radio networks, radio repeaters, and communications training.
The Pumpenbil Community Resilience Group will spend its grant on emergency medical preparedness after helicopters had difficulty locating the community helipad during recent call-outs. The remote community, which can be cut off when roads flood, will fund an illuminated windsock, emergency lighting, first aid resources and a defibrillator.
“When emergency helicopters struggled to locate our landing site, it highlighted how vulnerable our community can be when access roads are cut,” said John Quale of the Pumpenbil group.
Other funded projects cover cultural burning, street coordinator networks, community mapping and programmes designed to reduce isolation.
The Help Fund also runs NRMA Insurance’s Climate-Smart Innovation Grants, which opened applications on 14 August for A$500k across eight awards to climate-technology founders.
IAG reported gross written premium up 7.6% to A$18.41bn (US$13.27bn) in FY2026, but net profit after tax fell to A$1.02bn (US$736m) from A$1.36bn. Pre-tax insurance profit slipped to A$1.55bn from A$1.74bn on higher perils, though underlying insurance profit rose to A$1.58bn.
